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Courtmacsherry RNLI called for second time in 24 hours to sailor on 47ft yacht

Lifeboats News Release

Courtmacsherry RNLI's all-weather lifeboat Val Adnams, was called out for a second time within 24 hours, when a sailor on a 47ft yacht got into difficulties off the Old Head of Kinsale this afternoon (Monday, 2 September) at 3.50pm.

Courtmacsherry RNLI crew pictured after the call out

RNLI/Courtmacsherry

Courtmacsherry RNLI crew pictured after the call out

As the crew pagers activated, the Coast Guard Marine Rescue Co-Ordination Centre sought immediate help for the vessel with one person on board which was on passage from Old Court near Skibbereen to Kinsale.

Under Coxswain Ken Cashman and a crew of five, the lifeboat was underway quickly and located the sailor due south of the Old Head at 4.30pm. The yacht had lost complete power and the skipper on his own was unable to make any safe progress under sail in a difficult north westerly wind. The lifeboat crew immediately attached a tow rope in order to secure the yacht which was about one and a half miles off the coastline. With the yacht in disabled mode, a decision was taken to proceed to the nearest port and the lifeboat thus proceeded to tow the yacht to Kinsale Harbour where it was successfully berthed at a mooring up river at 6.25pm.

The crew onboard the call out this evening were Coxswain Ken Cashman, mechanic Dave Philips and crew members Donal Young, Niamh Hurley and brothers Mark and Dara Gannon. This was the second call out to sailors in difficulties in the past 24 hours and it was great that both rescues were carried out successfully.

For Mark Gannon it was another notable call out in this his 48th year of continuous voluntary service at the Courtmacsherry Station as either a Coxswain or crew member. He was joined today by his brother Dara thus continuing a great tradition of multiple members of the same families being involved in Courtmacsherry RNLI over the decades.

Ends

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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